The Revered Judges at Broadhalfpenny Down

Hampshire and England legend Robin Smith was not the only "Judge" to feature at the cradle of cricket

Broadhalfpenny Brigands are fortunate to have Lord Justice Dingemans as a long-time playing member. He was called to the Bar in 1987 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2002, but is more famous around these parts for his dashing left-handed stroke play and his enthusiastic fielding in the covers.

On 21 July 1996, Dingemans scored a century before lunch against the Saints. His hundred came up with the score on 112 for 1, of which 8 were extras. Fellow opener, Ashley Mote, batted back 43 consecutive dot balls before making his only scoring stroke, a three, after 55 minutes at the crease, by which time, Dingemans had scored 61.

But he is not the only judge to have played at the famous ground; Robin Smith was known throughout cricket as “Judge” and the verdict on his contribution was unanimous: he was among the most fearless batters of his generation.

Few who were there will forget how he smashed boundaries towards the Bat & Ball Inn whilst playing for the Lords Taverners at Broadhalfpernny Down, and those who watched him at his best in the late 1980s and early 1990s will not forget the sight of him standing toe to toe with the era’s quickest bowlers. Against Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and Allan Donald, Smith never flinched and loved to carve through point or hook to deep square leg.

Smith, who died last November aged 62, was a gladiator of a cricketer who excelled as a teenager in rugby, hurdling, and shot put. With South Africa still under sporting boycott, his English father built a cricket square next door, complete with a bowling machine. Smith and his brother Chris trained there, joined at times by nearby greats Mike Procter and Barry Richards (a Patron of Broadhalfpenny Down). The frizzy hair, likened to a judge’s wig, earned the nickname that stayed for life.

Richards urged him to sign for Hampshire, beginning a path to England qualification, and a career that included 13 international centuries, including a Test-best 175 in Antigua and 167 not out against Australia at Edgbaston, then the highest ODI score by an England batter.

James Dingemans on the attack, and retrieving a six-hit from the field, in the New Year's Day match in 2022, and Robin Smith with David Capel at Broadhalfpenny Down